Auburn’s veterinary medicine faculty diagnosed Nova with cardiomyopathy, a chronic disease of the heart. An abnormal heart rhythm was detected during a routine checkup.

Nova has been placed on medications and is being monitored by raptor centre staff. Veterinary medical staff decided that Nova should not be put in situations that cause his heart to work harder than usual.

Nova was hatched in 1999 at the Montgomery Zoo and came to Auburn in 2000. Spirit became the only bald eagle that has ever flown in Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2002.